KBI Media Report: September 2018

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has expanded the use of checkpoints, common along the border, into the interior of the country.Photo by PINKÉ.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/

Our report this month highlights Temporary Protected Status developments; indefinitely detained families; the expansion of checkpoints and concurrent civil rights abuses; and a new restrictive U.S. policy aimed at green card applicants who rely on public services.

Checkpoints at the Border: Long a practice near the U.S.–Mexico border, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is extending its use of checkpoints to the northern border and the interior of the country. Moreover, CBP is detaining U.S. citizens with passports, subjecting them to hours of questioning and fear of further action before release and violating the civil rights of those detained. Here’s a more thorough report of the situation: https://www.texasobserver.org/checkpoint-nation/.

Public Benefits for Green Card Holders: Immigrants who use any type of in-kind public benefits in the U.S. are now at risk of being denied green cards. The Trump administration announced the new rule in September, implementing yet another policy aimed at curtailing legal immigration. The shift will affect millions of immigrants over time, and force them to decide between seeking necessary food, medical, and housing assistance or pursuing green card status. Read more here: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/22/us/politics/immigrants-green-card-public-aid.html.